First visit to the new Academy of Sciences

My older son and I went to the restored California Academy of Sciences yesterday. I was anticipating crowd-related disappointment, but it was way less packed than expected on only the fifth day open to the public. I didn’t see any schools there, so maybe they haven’t booked those yet, and the crowds will swell again later. In any case, mid-week seems to be a good time to visit the museum right now.

Another generation touches a starfish …

I have some very small gripes (including one specific problem that I’m going to address as a separate post), but as a whole I was thoroughly impressed. Here are a few general observations before I tell the rest of the story in the always reliable photo essay format:

— Take public transportation if possible. If not, and you’re worried about parking, try Martin Luther King Junior Drive and park on the outfield side of the baseball fields (see this map). It’s a five minute walk to the Academy, and it’s free.

— The cafeteria food presented by the Slanted Door people is really good. It’s pricey-ish, but still less expensive than the food at places such as the Westfield Center and Metreon. I got the imperial rolls and a chicken bun, and each was actually a little cheaper than the exact same thing sold at Out the Door.

— I didn’t take any pictures of the rainforest exhibit (the big snow globe-like thing on the west end of the Academy), mostly because I was so blown away that I didn’t even think about my camera. The line moves quickly. Go to this exhibit before you do the aquarium — it ends in the aquarium any way.

Here’s the rest of the tour …

.

.

I didn’t tell my son we were going somewhere fun until we pulled up to his babysitter and dropped his little brother off. I was fully expecting to have to turn around as soon as we saw the line, and my backup plan was a trip to the Koret Children’s Quarter. But the wait wasn’t too bad — 15 minutes max. One negative: I didn’t get a discount with my Oakland Zoo membership, which was promised when we originally signed up. The price was $24.95 for me (yikes! — let’s save that discussion for tomorrow) and free for my 3-year-old.

.

.

.

One thing I love about the new Academy is the constant nods to the old one. It’s a totally modern building and the exhibits are filled with 21st Century technology, but it feels like a remake more than something completely different. The hall with the taxidermed animals was a good example. Here’s my son with the zebras …

.

.

.

The penguins are at the end of the hall with the stuffed animals. This exhibit was especially popular with the kids. I didn’t see any dolphins at the new Academy, which may be a good thing. Their old “habitat” was pretty cramped and depressing and doesn’t fit in with the new pro-environment message.

.

.

.

The pendulum is back!

.

.

.

The alligator pit is considerably smaller, but the creepy-looking white alligator makes up for it. I’m not even sure it’s real — it didn’t move a muscle and we watched for 15 minutes — but it was still one of my son’s favorite exhibits. Steinhart Aquarium fans take note that they used the same seahorse fencing around the enclosure.

.

.

.

The aquarium is almost entirely underground now. The fish rotunda is gone but the touch pool is back. Many of the aquarium exhibits have giant floor-to-ceiling windows. Be sure to set your camera on no-flash when you’re down here, unless you want seven different Academy employees to yell at you at once. (Sorry!)

.

.

.

I’m glad I don’t have one of those kids who is always begging for stuff, because there are something like 47 different souvenir stores in the building. (Actually, I saw three, but that’s two too many.)

.

.

.

The T-Rex was another favorite that was carried over from the old Academy. Even though the Academy is shiny and new, I felt like I was showing my son something from my childhood. I wonder if his kids will enjoy this skeleton, too.

.

.

.

I love the new globally conscious bent of the Academy, but the Save the Polar Bear video game was a little over the top. There’s a baby polar bear that reunites with the mother bear (above) if you can hook together the ice rafts. The message must have worked — when we got home my son spray-painted “EARTH FIRST” on our SUV.

.

.

.

The living roof was one of my favorite places to visit. My son was much more interested in the elevator, which made sense: The elevators all have glass walls, and feel like rides more than just transport. (At one point, you’ll descend in the aquarium and find yourself face-to-face with giant catfish.)

One more note for parents: The Academy was designed with strollers in mind. The elevators are all the size of freight elevators, and most of the lanes around the exhibits are made for double strollers. There seemed like less exhibit space than the old Acamedy, but the reward is much more wide open space and natural lighting.

I also appreciated the way that the scientists are worked into the experience — both in the touch screen educational exhibits and roaming around on the museum floor.

Overall, it’s an amazing place, and exceeded my expectations. Check it out as soon as you can.